Rory and Caroline got together after he ditched his teenage sweetheart Holly Sweeney after six years.

The student and model was heartbroken when Rory started seeing Caroline shortly after their split.

In an interview with the Irish Sunday Mirror at the time, Holly said Rory had confessed to fancying Caroline.

She said: "I always suspected he had a thing for her. He's always been a big fan of tennis.

"When he was watching the women's games he always said he fancied her but I didn't take it that seriously - little did I know.

"It was Rory that ran away with Caroline - not the other way around - so I guess I blame Rory, or both of them if I'm totally honest.

"I have to put the blame on him for what has happened but obviously I'm not her biggest fan ever.

"Obviously we'd separated before, but that wasn't for any other reason than that we thought we were too young to be in such a serious relationship. This was a different thing altogether."

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Holly said she was hurt as she saw their relationship develop.

She said: "I saw a tweet from Caroline saying she met Rory and that he was a great guy or something along those lines and my heart sank.

"I thought something was up because I didn't really hear from him during the trip to that boxing match in Germany that she was at.

"Then he got home, went straight to see the dogs instead of me, dodged me when he came through the door and then sat me down and told me that he met with her in Germany and that he wanted to see how it would go with her."

Bookmaker Paddy Power has already installed Rory McIlroy's ex Holly Sweeney as 3/1 favourite to be the golfer's next squeeze.

Following in a close second is model Nadia Forde at 6/1, with Serena Williams the outsider at 100/1.

Former Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal has wished the pair his best.

"It is tough for golfers to have relationships. We spend a lot of time away from home and it is hard to keep a relationship going. There are some good things about golf but also some not so good things.

"It is not like other sports - we can be away for a long time with tournaments and sponsorship and things like that. You can easily spent 25 to 30 weeks a year away from home. It is a risk.

"I wish Caroline and Rory the best of luck. Their time will come. They are very young and they have their futures ahead of them. It is tough but you have to respect their decision."

As soon as their relationship began, Rory and Caroline fell headlong into love and were seen at many sporting events together.

They supported each other through the good times and the bad but last year rumours were rife that the relationship was in trouble.

Rory’s performance on the golf course was in the doldrums and away from sport insiders reported that the couple were rowing over a photo of Rory Caroline had posted on the internet.

She told how Rory had proposed in the romantic setting of Sydney and she happily accepted.

The Danish Beauty tweeted at the turn of the New Year: "Happy New Year everyone! Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! ... I said YES!!!!"

The Co Down golfer also had his say a few minutes later, tweeting that he had scored his “first victory” of the year.

He wrote: “Happy New Year everyone! I have a feeling it’s going to be a great year!! My first victory of 2014”, adding the hashtag #shesaidyes!!

South African golfing legend Gary Player - who McIlroy looks up to as an inspiration - last year suggested the root of the Northern Irishman's playing problems in 2013 may have been matters of the heart.

"He's got to be intelligent and find the right wife," the 78-year-old said.

"If he finds the right wife, if he practises and if he's dedicated, he could be the man."

McIlroy insisted at the time that he had not heard the remarks but stressed his respect and admiration for Player, who credited his wife's dedication and sacrifice for his own success.

McIlroy's golf this year has yet to take off, with the Northern Irishman in poor form at the Masters in Augusta in the US earlier this year.